WEDNESDAY'S WORD ON THURSDAY - APLOMB - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati 05/28/15

Wednesday's Word has obviously arrived on Thursday ; )  Since May 8th I have been sick: first with allergies, then a bad cold. Finally this week the flu: chills, fever, coughing, but most of all debilitating headaches that have made moving difficult. In reflection, this called to mind a friend who has been dealing with debilitating headaches for years, and other friends who have managed to live with and thrive through various diseases, conditions and difficult situations with a level of 'grace and aplomb' that is miraculous. We are believing for the Lord's healing for them all.  In this season our family is being bombarded with situations from every side that require much prayer and God's grace.

Grace is simple elegance or refinement of movement; courteous good will; and an attractively polite manner.  In Christianity, grace is the unmerited favor of God bestowed when Jesus Christ came to save us from our sinful condition; and the Divine enablement to do His will and purpose, even when difficult, in the earth.  Aplomb is self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation; it is perpendicularity, or steadiness.  No matter what storm we face, we can have peace in the midst of it. Knowing this world is not our home, and we are always engaged in spiritual warfare, but Christ has already won the victory!

Paul said it this way in 2 Corinthians 4: 7-10 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our body... He described the handling of these harrowing situations as a 'treasure' that displays the power and glory of God, not our own greatness. The death process in us produces life in those who engage us. They see HIS resurrection power in us DAILY as we go through situations - not just at the end of our lives.

He concludes..."For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal (lasting only for a limited time); but the things which are not seen are eternal (lasting or existing forever)." (vs 16-18)  

There is purpose to the pain! I pray today that no matter what we're facing that we would see it as Paul did, and handle it with grace and aplomb to the glory of God!!

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DECLARATION - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati 05/20/15

A DECLARATION is a formal or explicit statement or announcement of intention or terms of agreement. To declare is to say something in a solemn and emphatic manner; to pronounce or assert (a person or thing) to be something specified.  From the Latin declarare - 'to thoroughly make clear.' In the US we are most familiar with our "Declaration of Independence." The colonies made the emphatic statement that we were no longer going to live under British rule, but would be self-governing. There are times when inner assertions need to move from the head and heart to the place of declaration. In the past weeks, we discussed that God is after our Disposition, our Decisions, our Dependence and our Discipline.  Did you know that God is also after your declarations?

Jesus said that the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:45)  If it is filled with evil things, that's what we speak. If it is filled with good things, that is what we declare. Is what's been coming out of your mouth what you really want to declare about your life, relationships or situations? Proverbs 4:23 states that we are to guard our hearts, for everything we do flows from them. Keeping our motives, thoughts, emotions and decisions pure is a much needed check for our declarations.

God is the KING of prophetic declarations.  Isaiah 46:10 says that He declares the end from the beginning. Everything He plans comes to pass.  He does whatever He wishes. His counsel and purposes stand.  Paul states in Romans 4:17 that God brings life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist. In Hebrews 11:3 he reiterates that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that what we see was not made of visible things but from His ideas expressed through the words, "Let there be..."  The Lord has given us that same faith-filled creative ability.  So watch your words! Declarations have a tendency to come to pass...

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DISCIPLINE - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati 05/13/15

DISCIPLINE is the practice of mental or physical training to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. This results in controlled behavior.  When we exercise self-discipline, we train ourselves to do something in a controlled and habitual way.  Some of us, remembering our childhood, only think of discipline as punishing or rebuking someone formally for an offense.

Discipline is indeed instruction and knowledge gained by the practice of exposing yourself to pain.  The Middle English connotation is 'mortification through scourging.'  Something has to die for us to be disciplined. Proper discipline received from parents, coaches and teachers is meant to bring us into adulthood with the ability to conduct ourselves in a manner that would bring good success. Whether in work, study, prayer, personal habits like exercise or diet, or relationally; God is after our discipline! Paul says in Hebrews 12:4-12, that the Lord disciplines us as a Father corrects or chastises the children he loves. If we were not under God's discipline, we would not belong to Him. He disciplines us so we can share in His holiness and produce His righteousness. Don't make light of God's discipline. Endure it gratefully.

Discipline is choosing between what we want NOW and what we want MOST.  We discussed last Wednesday, that God is after our DECISIONS.  Happily, we don't have to make these decisions without the Lord's power! for the fruit or manifestation of God's Holy Spirit living within us is self-control (Galatians 5:22). We are not hopelessly under the dominance of our impulses, emotions, or even the devil's schemes. To habitually practice God's ways requires being led by and walking in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-18) Paul said "I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified." (1 Cor. 9:27) A disciple of Jesus Christ needs DISCIPLINE, God's after that in us! 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DECISION - Sadell Bradley New Life Covenant Cincinnati 05/06/15

A DECISION is a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.  It is  the action or process resolving a question. Resolution. Resolving. Those are really comforting words. Peace only comes, once we consider a thing, decide between variables, and act. Sometimes decisions are clear.  The evidence is weighty on one side and we do not struggle with which direction to take.  At other times, this is not the case. In a boxing match like Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, in the absence of a knockout, a decision awards the winning of a fight to the boxer with the most rounds won or points. A debate ensues as to who really won, but the decision has been made. In life we wish for decision-making knockouts! the road that's easy to see or take. Unfortunately we don't always get that surefire answer, so we have to have to add up the points and come to a conclusion (that may be wrong), or a believer may have to make what seems like a crazy decision that doesn't add up to exercise more faith. That's why we hesitate on some decisions.

Moses and Joshua challenged Israel to decide to love God and follow his commands. Moses amplified the difference in a decision to follow the Lord vs. worship of other gods. "See I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction." (Deut. 30:15).  Joshua put forth an ultimatum with several decisions included: "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Put away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose yourselves this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)  Did you know God is after our decisions?

Jesus had to make decisions. He used a litmus test to know whether He was on track. With the greatest humility, He decided things with His Father: "I can do nothing on my own. I judge (decide) as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the One who sent me, not my own will." (John 5:30) Why are you deciding on this particular course of action? Is the will, Word and Spirit of God your motive?  Or is doubt, fear, fame, status, etc.? Have you considered the potential consequences of the decision you're about to make? Every day we make 10's to hundreds of decisions that affect destiny. 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DEPENDENCE - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati 04/29/15

Dependence is the state of relying or being controlled by someone else with full trust or confidence; it is also reliance on someone for financial support.  Dependence is the disposition of a child to a parent. The more helpless a child is, the more dependent they are for care, protection, support and guidance.  Children are claimed on US taxes as 'dependents' because their parents are responsible for their well being while they are in the home.  As children grow, they experience more and more independence  or self-governance.  America declared it's independence from England through a revolt, war and legislation. Christ followers must keep in mind that in the Kingdom of God, we as the Father's children, make a declaration of DEPENDENCE on Him! He is the One on whom we rely, whose guidance controls our actions and in whom we trust for our financial support. God is after your dependence on Him!

Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches, Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 ESV We give mental assent to this fact, and express it glibly to others, but we don't experience the reality of our dependence until the vulnerability and powerlessness of times like these befalls us with: riots, earthquakes, tornadoes, financial and political crises, health issues and other circumstances beyond our control. 

It is hard to admit that we would really prefer to handle things ourselves: to know all the answers, to be invincible, immortal and never vulnerable. We'd like to think that our much speaking, posting, protesting, or the security measures we take, and the money we have in the bank will preserve us from any trouble.  Deep down, we know we are ultimately dependent on God's mercy, grace, sovereignty and timing, and that can be either really scary or really comforting. In his time of crisis, Paul clung to his unreliability and his need for God. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead.  (1 Corinthians 1:8-9) God is after our dependence on Him.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DISPOSITION - SADELL BRADLEY 04/22/15 NEW LIFE COVENANT CINCINNATI

Disposition is the usual attitude or mood of a person, a prevailing tendency  to act or think in a particular way - an inclination. It has the idea of being set in place, to regulate, administrate or control. Some people are pre-disposed to worry, depression, fear and anxiety.  Other's mood is generally happy, positive and at peace. One person reacts to situations they cannot control with anger.  Still other people struggle with the prevailing tendency to hold un-forgiveness and develop bitterness in their hearts when involved in a conflict. Did you know that God is after your disposition to be holy in all situations?

Believers know that the fruit of the Spirit of God living in us is love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, temperance, faith and self-control; (Gal. 5:22), but

if we held an evidentiary hearing on the attitude with which we approach various stressful situations, we might find evidence of operating in the flesh more than in the Spirit. Somehow in those times, we lose the serenity and mood which has been given to us by Jesus Christ in the dispensing of His Holy Spirit, and move to a fleshly inclination which causes us to operate in quality of life beneath our privilege.  What is your mood in trial?

Paul had many admonitions about our disposition in Scripture.  He challenged us to "count" or "consider" it all joy when you fall into diverse trials and tests.  The NLT translation says, "Consider it an opportunity for joy." (James 1:2) He also advises us to always rejoice, to leave off all anxiety, to pray specifically for what we desire, to receive and be secured by the peace of God which passes all understanding and to adapt a positive outlook in our thoughts. (Phil 4:4-9) In Philippians 2, Paul urges us to "let" or "allow" the mind of Christ: the disposition to prefer another, to love sacrificially, to humble ourselves, and to serve God's will and each other - to be our prevailing attitude. How are you generally pre-disposed to respond?  What is your attitude around what you're facing? Don't worry if it's not good...God will give you more chances to get it right! 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PACE- SADELL BRADLEY 04/15/15 NEW LIFE COVENANT CINCINNATI

PACE is consistent and continuous speed in moving.  It is the speed or rate at which something happens, changes or develops. In car racing, a pace car goes in front of the field to establish a competitive speed. "Pace yourself" means to do something at a slow and steady rate in order to avoid overexerting oneself. A "change of pace" indicates a deviation from what one is used to. To "set the pace" means to be the fastest runner in the early part of a race or figuratively, to lead the way in achieving something.  Pace is derived from the Latin passus or pandere 'to stretch.' God sometimes stretches us to establish a proper pace.
 
Paul uses the analogy of running a race to describe following Christ: Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run in such a way as to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:24-27)  

The life journey of a Believer in Jesus Christ, is a marathon-not a sprint.  In a marathon, each individual sets a personal goal of the time they wish to complete the race. They run behind a pace-setter at that particular speed to establish a good pace. If they go out too fast, they will exhaust themselves and perhaps not finish.  If they go out too slowly, they risk not achieving their individual goals.  It takes much self-control to train for and complete a marathon within the allotted time. It takes  disciplined purpose to finish our life's journey and calling with joy. (Acts 20:24) 

   

How is your pacing? too fast, anxious and frenzied? too slow, lazy or procrastinating? Or are you consistently and methodically moving toward the God's plans for you?

WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT GOOD FRIDAY? Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

What's good about Good Friday? This is the day during Holy Week, that Christians celebrate the Passion of Jesus Christ.  Passion does not just describe Jesus' intense emotional feeling for us, it reveals His willingness to suffer, to be betrayed and to be killed - martyred for your sins and mine.  Scholars debate that Jesus may have been crucified on Wednesday, giving the 3 days and nights time before a Sunday resurrection, others believe He was crucified on Friday, the day before the Sabbath.  Nevertheless, the commemoration is held across the world on the day known as Good Friday. 'Good' meaning holy and set apart.

This year, Good Friday and Passover are on the same day. The Jews celebrate the deliverance of Israel from enslavement in Egypt.  God decreed through Moses that Pharaoh must let His people go so they might worship Him, and after 9 plagues on the Egyptians, capitulated His wrath by killing the first born son of every family including Pharaoh's. The Jewish families were saved by sacrificing an innocent  lamb and placing it's blood on the doorpost of their homes so the angel of death would 'pass over' and preserve their son's lives. What's good? Jesus is our spotless Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the world, so that we could enjoy eternal life and be restored to relationship with a loving Father, God. We are saved by His blood. (1 Peter 1:19-20)

What's Good? Jesus' intense love for us. It's hard to comprehend that someone would have this kind of love, compassion, mercy AND the courage to give their life as a ransom for many.  Paul said that one might die for a good man, or for a righteous man, but God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! At the time we were without strength, Jesus CHOSE to die. (Romans 5:6-8)

What's Good? That the 39 lashes Jesus bore were for our healing. In fact, ALL that He endured on the journey and the cross was for OUR benefit. (Isaiah 53)  It was the punishment that WE deserved. It was the penalty for our sins, iniquities, transgressions and failures.  He was beaten so that we could be made whole. He was chastised so that we could enjoy peace. Another Good thing is that Jesus knew through this prophecy all that was to befall Him, for whom He would suffer, how it would go down, how brutal it would be, and why He had to do it...and He did it anyway...so we could have peace with God.

What's Good? Jesus not only endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2), He embraced His death, taking up His cross for God's will to be done through His life. Jesus understood who He was - God in the flesh, the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. (Col 2:9)  He had the power to ask God to call down legions of angels to save Him. (Matt 26:53) Though it looked like He was helpless and this was being done to him by men, His perspective on His crucifixion was just the opposite.  "No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.". (John 10:18) He is our example of a love that knows no bounds, an unconditional, sacrificial love that would spend it all for the ones He loves...if that's not good news...I don't know what is!  So enjoy and be thankful celebrating today!!

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - WRESTLE - SADELL BRADLEY - NEW LIFE COVENANT 04/01/15

Wrestle means to take part in a fight, either as sport or in earnest. Wrestling involves grappling with one's opponent and trying to force or throw them to the ground. Wrestle is a form of the Old English wrest - to forcibly pull something from a person's grasp, to take something especially power or control from someone or something after considerable effort or difficulty.

Followers of Jehovah are always wrestling. In Genesis 32:22-23 Jacob, after having endured a trial with his deceitful uncle Laban, fled his house with his family.  He attempted a peace treaty and reconciliation with both his uncle and his estranged brother Esau, whom he had tricked into selling his birthright to him. Dealing with the pain of all that his life had become and desiring to wrest a new future, Jacob wrestled with an angel of the Lord throughout the night until the break of day, stating, "I will not go except you bless me."  In this wrestling the Lord did not just give him the blessing, but a new name. Instead of Jacob which means usurper, his name would be Israel, or God strives, "because you have fought with God and with men and have won."

In Ephesians 6, Paul admonishes us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  To put on the whole armor of God to be able to stand against the devil's schemes in the evil day. He explains that we are used to waging war against other humans with fleshly weapons like angry arguments, and the striking of fists. He reveals that these attempts to wage a spiritual war in a carnal way will be fruitless, like beating the air. It is not people and what they do or do not do that we are fighting. There is a higher, unseen realm of warfare that we must engage. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 Today as you engage difficult problems, know there is a bigger fight and get to wrestling in the Spirit!

WEDNESDAY'S WORD- STRATEGY - Sadell Bradley New Life Covenant Cincinnati 03/25/15

Strategy - a plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim; the art of planning and directing military operations and movements in a war or battle. From the Greek strategia 'generalship.' "Leaders establish a vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there." John P. Kotter Professor of Leadership, Harvard Business School

Every great leader has a strategic aim. Chess players out think opponents to  "checkmate." Coaches design plays for a big WIN. Entertainment executives gain the loyalty of their desired demographic for ratings.  Commander's strategize for leverage, power, and to win wars should they ensue. Jesus also has a strategy: to fill the world with disciples who will love, teach and establish His Kingdom rule on the earth.   In order to fulfill His strategy, our Lord needed followers who would understood the overall aim - to increase His government and peace in the world. Isa. 9:7 They had to reckon with whether they were prepared to pay a price for a strategic aim that would affect their personal comfort, relationships, possessions, and might cost their lives! Luke 14:25-33:

25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison-your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

Jesus admonished them to think things through before signing up to be His  followers.  It would be shameful for them to begin with the Master in excitement, but then quit on the mission once things got hard - which He promised they would. I've often wished we would tell people what they were signing up for when they came to 'join church' - I'm not sure how mega they would be...

 28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.Whatever endeavor you are pursuing (ministry, education, marriage, work, children) FIRST calculate the cost. Invest the time to make a plan and ask yourself  the hard questions. Is it worth it to your life, family and future?  Do you have enough spiritual and natural resources to see it through to the end? If you've made a commitment to follow Jesus - the cost is EVERYTHING you own, EVERY relationship you have, and YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - PROFIT - Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati 3/18/15

Profit - a financial gain, the difference between the amount earned and the amount spent; advantage; benefit. From the Latin profectus -meaning progress.

At New Life Covenant we are in the small group series: Balanced - Gaining and Maintaining Financial Stability by Andy Stanley.  It is re-shaping our ideas about money, stewardship and our responsibilities as managers of what is God's.  We learned that to be financially balanced: we must keep our eyes focused on the target, be adaptable and ready to make constant corrections, and have a clear objective - which with money is to honor God with what He has entrusted to us. 

Jesus' teachings correlate the way we interact with money with worship.  The rich young ruler was challenged to give 'his' possessions to the poor to gain treasure in heaven and inherit eternal life. He went away sorrowful because he was unwilling to do so (Matthew 19).  In Luke 12, a man asked Jesus to command his brother to divide his inheritance with him. Jesus told him about a greedy fool who in pride boasted about storing 'his' goods in barns and bigger barns for himself, but died the very same day without ever being rich toward God.

In Matthew 6, Jesus admonishes the disciples not to worry about provision, but to trust the Father's care.  There are two masters we can serve: either God or money, but not both. You will love one and despise the other. I never thought love of, or anxiety about a car, clothing, house, investments, vacation, entertainment, etc. means I am automatically despising God? Our hearts reside in the place we really treasure.

Growing up I wasn't taught that the way I handled money was a reflection of my relationship with God.  I heard the parable of the talents often, but the Return on Investment was preached as using gifts and abilities, or saving souls - not the actual context of a master handing his servants a sum of money and expecting a profit.  (Matthew 25)  The servant who wasted his Lord's money was deemed "wicked and unprofitable." If stewarding God's money on earth is our training ground for heaven's treasures...how are we doing? I could do better...

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